ATCOV Color Vision Test

what was the time frame from taking your medical exam to taking this test?
Took my medical December 5th, test tomorrow so 2 weeks about. The wait is basically them approving the funding for your travels. If you happen to live near your region's testing center it may move faster if you can just get there yourself.
 
Took my medical December 5th, test tomorrow so 2 weeks about. The wait is basically them approving the funding for your travels. If you happen to live near your region's testing center it may move faster if you can just get there yourself.
do they give you a range of dates to choose from? I'm trying to plan a trip that might be right around the time when the color vision test would be
 
do they give you a range of dates to choose from? I'm trying to plan a trip that might be right around the time when the color vision test would be
Yes, they ask when you are available. My suggestion: get it done as soon as possible, unless you're in no hurry to get to the academy. But the last thing I want is something on my medical holding me up.
 
Yes, they ask when you are available. My suggestion: get it done as soon as possible, unless you're in no hurry to get to the academy. But the last thing I want is something on my medical holding me up.
I agree thanks! one last thing does it have to be completed within the 60 days like everything else?
 
what was the time frame from taking your medical exam to taking this test?
I'm really not too positive on that one... I didn't want to take any chances so I made sure it was within the 60 days, but no one ever mentioned that it had to be done I'm just assuming it does since it's part of your medical. Maybe someone else can vouch in this thread on that one?
 

If any of you in this thread have a few minutes even if you have already taken the ATCOV I'm curious to see what "type" of color troubles you have. At the end of the test it will tell you. If you have already taken the ATCOV please state if you passed or not along with this test result.
 
Last edited:

If any of you in this thread have a few minutes even if you have already taken the ATCOV I'm curious to see what "type" of color troubles you have. At the end of the test it will tell you. If you have already taken the ATCOV please state if you passed or not along with this test result.
I got “MODERATE DEUTAN”. I passed the ATCOV test back in April.
 
I got “MODERATE DEUTAN”. I passed the ATCOV test back in April.
Sweet thanks! Mine came out to be Strong Protan. I take the test tomorrow in Salt Lake. Anyone else in here have a type of Protan color blindness and passed the ATCOV?
 
I ended up passing everything but the radar identification (87.7% fail). The person administering it was on her first day of the job and told me she wasn’t sure if those results means if I move on or not.
 
Last edited:
Just an update for anyone who has future questions about the ATCOV:

You are not medically disqualified if you fail a portion of the ATCOV. For instance, I failed Ocean 21 due to me not being able to distinguish between white and sky blue. As a result, I will likely be restricted to just terminal positions.

Don't give up before or even during your ATCOV, you can move on to the next phase just fine.
 
Just an update for anyone who has future questions about the ATCOV:

You are not medically disqualified if you fail a portion of the ATCOV. For instance, I failed Ocean 21 due to me not being able to distinguish between white and sky blue. As a result, I will likely be restricted to just terminal positions.

Don't give up before or even during your ATCOV, you can move on to the next phase just fine.
Ocean21 is used by like a very small amount of en route controllers
 
Ocean21 is used by like a very small amount of en route controllers

Instead call it Atops and people will think you are old school. Seriously failing that is a blessing, no one wants to work that. It’s boring and way too easy. Good move.
 
Question, So I took the ATCOV passed everything except for one section based on STARS and because of that I have a restriction that I cant use STARS equipment. I'm Currently at a ARTCC so it doesn't affect me currently. However I'm curious if having such a restriction would prevent me from transferring to a tower or up/down later in my career if I so choose. Would I be able to work just the tower and not touch the STARS stuff? I have zero interest working in a stand alone Tracon so not too concerned about that just more curious on tower ops if I ever got the urge.
 
I doubt you would ever be able to be certified in a standalone tower without being able to work the STARS to use the CTRDs. I know someone similar and they were restricted to working enroute only.
 
I recently took this so I can include my 5¢.

For the first section I didn’t have trouble with most of the test, but for the Ocean21 parts I was unable to distinguish the white from the light sky blue. The two practice tests made that obvious to me, both looked white. I took the test in a dark room with a clear monitor, so it was me, not my setup. I’m certain I got all the ocean 21 white and sky blue questions wrong, but I still scored above the 90% cutoff. This section also took the longest for me. There were two practice tests with like 20 examples each. The actual test had around 60 if I remember correctly. So maybe 4 of those were ocean21 white/sky blue questions.

For the Alert Detection, it is well described here. What I would add is that the alert is blinking, not just a solid color, which makes it much easier to find. However there will often be up to 1 other text blinking on the screen that does not include the CA. My advice would be to lean more on your ability to detect movement through your peripheral vision and check the movement for the red CA. You can test that strategy out during the practice test. There were over 220 of these on the actual test so like another commenter said, take advantage maybe 5-10 of the 30 seconds provided to answer to not go crazy and overwhelmed.

Weather detection is simple, there were maybe 30 total questions on the real test.

The Restricted Airspace was also simple, there were only 2 questions.

The bulk of the time spent is on the first 2 of the 4 sections. I got worried that I was going to miss my flight (which I almost did) but the last two sections went real fast.

I took my time. The proctor was very friendly and helpful, spent their time in their office while I took it around the corner, so it wasn’t like they were looking over my shoulder the whole time or making me feel pressured to do it quickly.
 
Back
Top Bottom